Germany's bulker specialist Oldendorff Carriers is being linked to a possible order for ultramax and/or kamasarmax bulkers in China.
Informed sources say it has approached several Chinese yards to sound them out on price and delivery.
It has been suggested that initial talks have been based on an order of more than 10 ships.
While dismissing the market talk, Oldendorff may have attracted the rumours as it is one of the few to be in a position to invest in newbuilds.